Driving to the beach this summer? You wouldn’t be the only one, with beach holidays being the most popular kind for Brits. But anyone who’s had to navigate a long car journey with young children knows how exhausting it can be.

Below, we’ll explore some strategies for making the journey as stress-free as possible so that you can arrive for your holiday feeling ready for a good time.

Carry a car repair kit

The last thing you want if you’re on a long journey is for something to go wrong with your vehicle and have no way to address it beyond calling for help. You should make sure that you have jumper leads sitting in your boot, as well as other potentially day-saving backups like spare tyres, washer fluid, and phone chargers. The latter in particular could be vital to keep kids distracted if they face a long wait for assistance.

Plan strategic pit stops

Kids will get restless if sitting in the car for too long, and you’ll likely want more rest than usual if you’re travelling with them, so think in advance about where will be good places to take breaks. Identify places with playgrounds, picnic areas, and clean restroom facilities that can play host to you every couple of hours so that you can stretch your legs and let the children burn off some energy

Entertainment

Perhaps the biggest challenge of taking the children on long car journeys is keeping them entertained. A well-chosen audiobook can be invaluable on this front, taking the pressure off you to keep up a conversation, as can some music – offer the kids some influence over the playlist before you leave so that they feel involved.

Tablets loaded with movies and games are of course an option as well, while parlour games like 20 Questions or No More Jockeys are great for keeping minds engaged.

Seat organisation and comfort

Preparation of the car before you leave can be invaluable here. You could look into seat organisers or storage solutions for keeping things kids might want within easy reach without getting cluttered while, to anticipate potential irritation, you could look into window shades that can block out sunlight and reduce glare.

Snacks and essentials

No long road trip is complete without a good supply of snacks to keep you all going. Obviously, a car is a far cry from a fridge, so it’s important to choose items that will handle the journey well – think granola bars, fruit slices, crackers, and the like.

You’ll also want to make sure you have access to essentials like tissues, hand sanitiser, sunblock, and a small bin or bag for rubbish. A reusable water bottle is vital, and many are designed to keep their contents cold so chill some water overnight before you set off to ensure refreshment when you need it.